The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-10-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Oct. 81. 1887

| IrroH our neBular COrrebpOnuent.I
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81, 1887.
If the reader will reflect for ont
moment know he will endorse m,
conclusion that this administration j.
, one. of the huge shams of the age. Il
came into power with flying banner.
inscribed all over with the word sre.
form," and with promises as thick as
the forest leaves, of benefits that should
follow the turning out of the rascals. y
| The same vote that elected Cleveland
| President gave him forty-three major
| ity in the House of Congress. Now
behold the result Nearly three
fourths of the administrative term has
expired, and not single measure of
National importance has been passed.
Mention if you can one that has benefit
ted the people outside of the regular
routine, or marked this administration
with any characteristic feature. 1t
can not be done. The whole admin
istration Of Cleveland thus far has been
purely negative. All promises of "re-
form" were long since forgotten. The
great ambition seems to be to flutter
for while in the public gaze, and then
this administration will pass down and
out as one of the most unmitigated
failures on record.
Congress will be urged this winter
to pass some measure looking to the
correction of the present system of
heating railroad cars. 1t undoubtedly
has the power to legislate upon this
subject, and the experience especially
of this past year has fully demonstrate
ed that the stove must go, and some
other means of heating be.devised that
will insure greater safety to the travel.
ing public.
A strong effort will be made by the
District Democracy, aided by various
State clubs organized here, to have
the xtsDemocratic National Con-
vention held in this city. Several
meetings have already been held, and
considerable correspondence had in
relation to the matter, and the leaders
in the movement claim that there is a
fair show of success. Washington is
getting to be the central point of nu-
merous large annual gatherings, and
the number is constantly increasing.
The project to build an immense hall,
with seating capacity for 5000, with
all modern conveniences is meeting
with great encouragement.
The commissioner OF the general
land Office is remarkably modest in
his demands, considering that he is an |
important factor in reform" admin |
istration. In his estimates for the
next fiscal year he asks for liz addi-
tional clerks and an increase in the
appropriation for his bureau over that
of last year, Of nearly one million of
dollars. If all bureau officers were
like Sparks, and their requests should
be granted by Congress, there would |
be no OCCASION to. worry about the
treasury surplus.
Figures at the treasury show that
during last month we exported flour to /
the value of $5,32I,S12, and wheat to
the value Of $4,7oI, 500, THIS year
the September expectation of wheat
has fallen off over one-half, and the
expectation of flour has increased al !
most two-thirds over the corresponding
month of last year.
indianapolis was the first city visit |
ed by the President in his "swing
around" 1t held its municipal cleo
ton last week and went Republican
by largely increased majority. A fair
indication of what is coming.
The rumor that an attempt was
made to wreck the Presidential train
near Memphis, may have some founda-
ton, but it is regarded here almost .un-
iversally as slim attempt to produce
scenic effect on the last act of an ex-
ceedingly stupid play.
During the past few days several
congressman have taken up their
abode among us, and many familiar
faces are now recognized on the Az
enue. | met Congressman Barnes, of
Georgia, yesterday, who is the heavy
weight of the House, gas pounds
strong, but albeit good jovial fellow.
He is strong partisan Democrat and
pretends to think, with nervous
twitching about the eye, that Cleveland
IS doing "pretty we'll"
Randall spent day here last week
on his return from Atlanta, and exhlb-
tied numerous letters of endorsement
from various sections in the South and
invitations to visit them, which shows
pretty clearly that it will be hard work
for Carlisle and Mills to read him out
of the party.
One Of the proudest men in Wash
ington to-day is Commissioner Oberly.
He has "downed" the Virginia and
Ohio clubs in their rebellion on civil
service, is sustained by his two col
leagues, and has the official endorse
ment of the New York Mugwump
Reform association. What greater
honor can one man achieve? True, it
don't reduce the price of breadstuffs or
relieve any burdens, but then Oberly
is satisfied and correspondingly proud,
and he is part of the administration
that is seeking praise.